HLA-B*53:01 is a significant risk factor for liver injury due to phenytoin and other anti-epileptic drugs in African Americans

Abstract

Introduction: To investigate human leukocyte antigen alleles associated with liver injury due to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in African Americans (AA). Methods: In this study, 21 AA with AED drug-induced liver injury (DILI), 176 AA with DILI due to non-AEDs, and 5816 AA population controls were included. Results: HLA-B53:01 was significantly associated with aromatic AED-DILI (odds ratio: 4.52, 95% confidence interval: 2.42-8.44, P = 1.46 × 10 -5 ). Phenytoin DILI showed the strongest association with HLA-B53:01 (odds ratio: 9.17; 95% confidence interval: 3.61-23.28, P = 1.1 × 10 -5 ). The HLA-B*53:01 allele was carried by 8 of 9 AA phenytoin DILI cases. Discussion: HLA-B*53:01 is a significant risk factor of liver injury due to antiepileptics, particularly phenytoin, in AA.